Top Chef Star from Coatesville Prepares for New Adventure

Coatesville native Chris Scott, star of the 15th season of Bravo’s hit show Top Chef, is readying for a fresh adventure with his new Birdman concept restaurant that pays tribute to the unsung character of plantation life, writes Adam Campbell-Schmitt for Food & Wine.

“The Birdman was the individual who tended to the birds on the plantation during the antebellum slavery era,” said Scott. “Once slavery was abolished, the Birdman became his own boss and used his chicken husbandry skills to raise himself out of poverty by becoming a chicken merchant and farmer.”

Scott is famous for his Amish Soul Food, which is a combination of his Southern roots and growing up near Pennsylvania Dutch country. Now, he is focusing on chicken for his new eatery. The restaurant will showcase fried and smoked chicken paired with classic Southern sides.

Birdman will be located in Connecticut. It was originally planned for Philadelphia, but the costs were too high.

“The liquor license alone was $275,000,” said Scott. “My partners are from Connecticut, so we tried the concept out there instead. It’s much cheaper.”